THE USE OF BEE PRODUCTS FOR THE TREATMENT: THE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES OF BEEKEEPERS

Vse več raziskav na področju medicine in drugih naravoslovnih znanosti se ukvarja s posameznimi čebeljimi pridelki in na novo odkriva in potrjuje njihove pozitivne učinke pri zdravljenju in preprečevanju bolezni. Namen magistrskega dela je bil raziskati, kakšno vlogo ima apiterapija oziroma zdravljenje s čebeljimi pridelki med slovenskimi čebelarji. Pri tem smo se osredotočili na njihove dosedanje izkušnje z uporabo čebeljih pridelkov ter pridobili stališča čebelarjev glede apiterapije in njene umestitve med ostale oblike zdravljenja. Vprašalnik, ki ga je izpolnilo 90 čebelarjev oziroma čebelark, je bil objavljen tudi na spletni strani Čebelarske zveze Slovenije. Rezultati so pokazali, da slovenski čebelarji v največji meri uporabljajo čebelje pridelke v preventivne namene (74%). Med čebeljimi pridelki je največ čebelarjev zaznalo pozitivne učinke na zdravje pri propolisu (96%), nekaj manj pri medu (94%), temu pa sta sledila cvetni prah (83%) in matični mleček (61%). Razlik med čebelarji člani in nečlani čebelarskih društev z našo statistično analizo nismo zaznali. Slovenski čebelarji imajo mnogo znanja in izkušenj s preventivno in terapevtsko uporabo čebeljih pridelkov, s čimer lahko veliko pripomorejo pri usmerjanju prihodnjih raziskav na področju uporabe apiterapije tudi v uradni medicini.More and more research in the field of medicine and other natural sciences deals with various bee products and rediscovers and certify their positive effects in the treatment (and prevention) of diseases. The purpose of the master thesis was to investigate the role of the apitherapy or treatment with bee products among the Slovenian beekeepers. We have focused on their previous experiences with the use of the bee products and obtain the views of beekeepers in respect of apitherapy and its placement among other forms of treatment. The questionnaire, which was completed by 90 beekeepers, was also published on the website of the Slovenian Beekeepers Association. The results showed that the Slovenian beekeepers use bee products mostly for preventive purposes (74%). The beekeepers reported the most effective therapeutic effects with propolis (96%), followed by honey (94%), bee pollen (83%), and royal jelly (61%). Our statistical analysis did not detect differences between beekeepers members and non-members of beekeepers’ associations. Slovenian beekeepers have a lot of knowledge and experience with preventive and therapeutic use of bee products. Therefore, they can contribute a lot in guiding future research on the use of apitherapy also in the conventional medicine